Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Douglas, James to Pakington, John Somerset 4 March 1853, CO 305:4, no. 5416, 12.
Abstract
Despatch to London.
Minutes (1).
This document contains mentions of Indigenous Peoples. The authors of these documents
often perpetuate a negative perspective of Indigenous Peoples and it is important
to look critically at these mentions. They sometimes use terminology that is now considered
hurtful and offensive. To learn more about modern terminology pertaining to Indigenous
Peoples, Indigenous ways of knowing, and decolonization, please refer to the Glossary of terms.
Douglas writes to Pakington to report on the status of the Catholic missionary work on Vancouver Island. Initially, Douglas acknowledges Pakington’s approval of Douglas’s earlier measures to discourage
Missionary stations beyond settlement limits;he then observes that Demers and several priests, recently arrived, had intended to
convert the Natives,but that they have instead been devoted to the instruction of
French Canadian Settlers,to potent effect.
The minutes note Douglas’s despatch as satisfactory.
No. 3
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch No 4,
of the 20th of August 1852, conveying your approval of the measures
which were adopted for the protection of the Roman Catholic Priest, who
had commenced a Missionary Settlement in the Cowegin Country, and it is
satisfactory to observe that you also concur in the propriety of the
views, entertained by this Government in respect to discouraging the
formation of Missionary stations beyond the limits of the settlements.
Mr
Mr Demers a native of the British Province of Canada, who is
invested with the Title of Roman Catholic Bishop of Vancouver's Island,
arrived in this Colony some months ago, accompanied by several other
Priests of the same religious persuasion, with the object of
establishing Missions among the native Tribes of Vancouver's Island.
These gentlemen have not yet made much progress, nor in fact made
any decided attempt to convert the Natives; except in the vicinity of
Victoria and even here, their intercourse with them is not general; the
greater part of their time being more usefully devoted to the
instruction of the French Canadian Settlers, and their families, a class
with which they possess a great and most salutary influence, which is
happily directed to the elevation of the moral character of the Members
of their Church, and to the encouragement of industry, sobriety, and
obedience to the Laws.
The Right Honorable Sir John S Packington Bart
Her Majestys principal Secretary of State
For the Colonial Department
Her Majestys principal Secretary of State
For the Colonial Department
